When we make investments, we do so with the expectation that they’ll return a financial gain in the future. For instance, we expect that our home will both provide shelter and increase in value. While there are things you can do to increase your chances of this happening, there are also other circumstances that can unexpectedly arise that can cause you to lose substantially. From natural disasters to financial meltdowns and more, you can quickly find yourself picking up the pieces of your investments wondering where things went wrong.

While we can’t eliminate the unknown, there are things you can do to protect yourself when insurance may not, and it’s worth the time to invest in your own knowledge in order to minimize the impact of the hit these circumstances can administer. Here, we offer four ways in which you can do just that.

Consider Automated Investing

The stock market can be difficult to predict, and there are so many different approaches you can take in the consideration of the best investment choices. That’s where automated investing can help. We have found numerous ways in which we can increase efficiency using technology, and it only makes sense that these many complicated formulas can be more easily considered using machines to do the hard work. With something like Wealthfront Review or some other similar tool, you can explore the many benefits of using this type of service before you make your next big stock market decision.

Utilize the Competitive Nature of the Insurance Business

Because of the increase in connectedness the world has experienced, we now have quicker access to more of the products and services we need than ever before. You can use this to your advantage when you compare insurance quotes online. Armed with the power of negotiation with multiple quotes that are now so easy to obtain, you can receive the protection you need on your most valuable assets at a cost you can afford.

Maintain and Improve

Your home is likely one of your largest investments, and it requires your attention to maintain. Unlike assets like cars, your home is capable of increasing in value over time, but it requires that you take the time to perform regular maintenance such as:

Having plumbing inspected at least every five years

Inspecting the home for termites every five years

Checking guttering system to reduce risk of flooding

You should also consider a remodeling job. It’s estimated that, by remodeling the kitchen alone, you can increase the overall value of the home by about $14,000.

Don’t Forget Digital Assets

We have become increasingly reliant on technology, and it’s becoming more and more important to consider your digital assets and how quickly they could disappear. There are a number of unexpected things that can occur that would eliminate any trace of the valuable information that lies in your business or personal computer that would take years or even decades to replace including:

Computer viruses

Hardware failure

Software corruption

Hardware destruction

Theft

Considering this threat is still relatively new, it can be easy to overlook. In order to ensure you’re protected, take the time to backup all of your data. There are a number of free applications you can use to achieve this, or you could even backup a physical copy using flash drives or other hardware.

Protecting What’s Yours

You work hard for your money, and eventually you want your money to pay back by working hard for you through retirement. While we can’t eliminate the possibility for bad things to happen, we can prepare for them by making smart choices now in preparation for future potentials. By following these five wise tips, you can be on your way to significantly minimizing the impact unforeseen circumstances can have on the future of both you and the ones you love.

This post was written by yours truly, Jon Elder. My mission is to help you succeed in your personal finance life. Join me on the journey to financial freedom! You can subscribe through RSS FEEDor EMAIL updates. You can also find me on TWITTER
and FACEBOOK
. Happy investing 🙂

This post was written by yours truly, Jon Elder. My mission is to help you succeed in your personal finance life. Join me on the journey to financial freedom! You can subscribe through RSS FEEDor EMAIL updates. You can also find me on TWITTER
and FACEBOOK
. Happy investing 🙂